Columbus Blue Jackets Activate C Mark Letestu Off Injured Reserve

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated center Mark Letestu off injured reserve, club Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced February 14. Letestu missed the last 17 games due to a hand injury suffered at San Jose on January 5.

Letestu, 26, has combined to record five goals and six assists for 11 points and two penalty minutes in 36 games with the Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins this season. He was acquired from Pittsburgh in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft on November 8. He has scored four power play goals, which ranks second (tied) on the Blue Jackets and matches his career high set in 64 games last season. In 110 career NHL games, he has tallied 20-19-39 and 17 penalty minutes and has added 0-2-2 in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Elk Point, Alberta native was signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on March 22, 2007 after spending one season at Western Michigan (CCHA). With the Broncos in 2006-07, he tallied 24-22-46 and 14 penalty minutes in 37 games to rank third in the CCHA in goals and seventh in points. His five shorthanded goals led the nation. Following his collegiate career, he spent parts of four seasons playing for Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He notched 51-83-134, 55 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus/minus rating of +30 in 191 career AHL games spanning 2007-10.

The Blue Jackets return to action tonight when the club hosts the St. Louis Blues. Game time from Nationwide Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio HD begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Wheeling Island Hotel & Casino Blue Jackets Radio Network, including WWCD 102.5 FM in Columbus and online at BlueJackets.com.

Single game tickets for the Blue Jackets home games starting at $26 are on sale now at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, The OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks and all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers. Fans can also purchase tickets by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at BlueJackets.com, the official club web site, and ticketmaster.com.

Full and partial season ticket plans for the Blue Jackets’ 2011-12 season are on sale now starting at less than $15 per game. Full and partial-season ticket holders receive a number of great benefits including significant savings versus single-game prices; the best available seat locations; exclusive access to events with players and coaches; and priority access to tickets for most other events at Nationwide Arena and the Jerome Schottenstein Center. For more information, call (800) NHL-COLS or visit BlueJackets.com.